Ready, Willing, and Able

"Daddy, can you hold me for a minute?" It seems like such a simple question, an innocent question. And yet the question itself suggests doubt on the part of the child. Maybe daddy's too busy. Maybe he's angry. Who knows which of our actions will cause a child to doubt their value?

These kinds of questions demonstrate a child's growth in understanding. They show a growing awareness of responsibility and priorities. These questions hint a fear and uncertainty. Children who asks these questions know their parents have responsibilities and priorities, but they aren't sure where they fit into those. They want to know they still count.

Sophia's question made me think. At first I just wondered how she could even think I wouldn't hold her. We had spent better part of the afternoon cuddling on the couch, watching movies. Maybe she feared I didn't want to hold her anymore. Maybe she just needed me to hold her a little tighter or little longer.

Something hit me as I pondered on the question. My mind turned to prayer and the struggles I am having at the moment. I approach God with the same sort of timidness Sophia approached me. "God, can you help me?" The words are earnest and hinting of fear. I'm afraid that he is too busy or that my most recent struggle with sin has angered him.

As I scooped up my little girl in my arms, I couldn't help imagining my heavenly Father scooping me up in his arms. I felt him saying, "Abba's here, my little one." Jesus once told a crowd to consider the reality of parenthood. Human parents are fallen, frail creatures with sin prone hearts, yet they know how to love their children. How much more does our heavenly Father love us, especially when we consider that his holy, perfect, and compassionate.

 I think I need to mediate on God's willingness to love, and more importantly his willingness to show it. He has made us his children and given us the task of having and raising children, so that we might better understand what his Fatherhood means. We don't have to ask "if" he will hold us, only that he will. He is ready, willing, and able.

Thursday Humor: Children

Running a tad behind today. Here is a little humor to end your day or start your morning if you read this on Friday. Enjoy!

Daddy Duty

This article was originally published here, on January 17, 2009.

Yesterday, I had daddy duty. We don't call it babysitting when mommy has to be out and daddy cares for Ms. Sophia. First of all, she's as much mine as she is Delia's. Second of all, the Lord has given me the responsibility, as the head of the household, of shepherding Sophia . Third of all, it was an opportunity to spend time playing with my little girl. She had daddy running here and running there. She likes it when I chase her. When I catch her, I give her kisses on the cheek and she giggles. Although it requires a lot of energy to chase her, I can't call it work. Her giggle just lifts my spirits.

It's hard to believe that we have been home over a week. The days are passing so fast. Sometimes I fear I am going to blink, and it will be her wedding day or college graduation and then she'll be moving to the next phase of life. Don't get me wrong, it isn't that I don't won't her to grow up. I just don't want to miss the important stuff. I am enjoying the days that God has given us, and I pray for many more. There is just so much happening that it would be easy to miss it or to miss out. Being a father is a calling that God has placed in my life. I realize that all my ability to minister is to be measured, in part, by my successes as a husband and father (see 1 Tim 3:4-5; Titus 1:6). I am prayerfully seeking to become the man God has called me to be.

Not all daddy duty is fun. Sometimes, you have to change really dirty diapers. Sometimes, your precious children get hurt. Sometimes, your precious children rebel against you. Sometimes, you have to discipline them. Parenting is hard work, when its done right. It requires diligence and vigilance; it requires a lifetime of love and care. There will be successes and failures, hardship and heartache, joy and laughter. The enormity of the task forces us to our knees in prayer, crying out to our heavenly Father for guidance, protection, assistance, forgiveness, and endurance. Our great hope is not in our ability to be good parents, but in the grace of God that enables us to be godly parents.

Editor's Note: I pull daddy duty every Monday and Tuesday, and I love it.  For nearly eleven months, I have had the privilege of spending time with Sophia.  She is constantly making us smile and laugh.  Even at two, she has a tremendous sense of humor.  Each day of daddy duty is different, but I am grateful for each one.

Learning from Sophia

I am amazed at how tough my little girl can be. She had to go the doctor's for a check-up today, but she didn't seemed phased. Even when they drew blood from her, she didn't cry. She only said, "Ow," when they poked her with a needle. She didn't let an early morning, an unfamiliar environment, or a six hour drive dampen her spirit. She just rolled with the events of the day.

I know as a father that one of my role's is instructor. I firmly believe that every father will have to give an account for the things he taught his children. But I am amazed at how much the Lord is teaching me through Sophia. She has an unbridled curiosity that leads her to explore. She is constantly solving problems in an attempt to get what she wants. Unless she is really tired or very hungry, she has a joyous, laughing nature. She just loves to have fun.

I think all of these things are good things, and I hope to nurture them for the glory of the Lord. But I have found myself wanting to nurture them in me, also, for the glory of the Lord. I want the kind of courage that accepts what is and graciously moves forward with life. I hope as I continue to teach Sophia about the Lord that the Lord will teach me, through Sophia, about childlike faith.

The Blessing of Children

Children are amazing. They seem to have an endless supply of energy. It appears that they are constantly in motion. They represent raw potential and limitless possibilities. In the same child one can see the best and worst of humanity. Children tend to have a boundless curiosity that leads the to explore their world and question the adults around them. They want to understand their world and find their place in it.

The Lord appears to have a special place in his heart for children. He even uses childlikeness as a picture for discipleship. While children naturally imitate adults, Jesus is encouraging adult to imitate children. Children have an easier time getting lost in wonder. They tend to be more trusting. They imitate those they love and trust. They also have an innocence about them. Thus, they make a good prototype for Christ's followers.

Although parenthood is not all happy meals and fun in the park, it is an continuous adventure. Without trying, children can expose the sin in a parents heart. They can help us to see where we need further sanctification. They help us to grow in love. We learn from them the necessity of discipline and hard work. Children are a blessing from the Lord. A blessing that communicates life and hope. After all, it is natural to look at a child and image the future stretched out before her. So the next time you're watch your children (or someone else's) play in the yard or running through the house screaming, thank the Lord for His blessing.

Daddy Duty

Yesterday I had Daddy duty. We don't call it baby sitting when mommy has to be out and daddy cares for Ms. Sophia. First of all, she's as much mine as she is Delia's. Second of all, the Lord has given me the responsibility of shepherding Sophia as the head of the household. Third of all, it was an opportunity to spend time playing with my little girl. She had daddy running here and running there. She likes it when I chase her. When I catch her, I give her kisses on the cheek and she giggles. Although it requires a lot of energy to chase her, I can't call it work. Her giggle just lifts my spirits.

It's hard to believe that we have been home over a week. The days are passing so fast. Sometimes I fear I am going to blink, and it will be her wedding day or college graduation and then she'll be moving to the next phase of life. Don't get me wrong, it isn't that I don't won't her to grow up. I just don't want to miss the important stuff. I am enjoying the days that God has given us, and I pray for many more. There is just so much happening that it would be easy to miss it or to miss out. Being a father is a calling that God has placed in my life. I realize that all my ability to minister is to be measured, in part, by my successes as a husband and father (see 1 Tim 3:4-5; Titus 1:6). I am prayerfully seeking to become the man God has called me to be.

Not all Daddy duty is fun. Sometimes, you have to change really dirty diapers. Sometimes, your precious children get hurt. Sometimes, your precious children rebel against you. Sometimes, you have to discipline them. Parenting is hardwork, when its done right. It requires diligence and vigilence; it requires a lifetime of love and care. There will be successes and failures, hardship and heartache, joy and laughter. The enormity of the task forces us to our knees in prayer, crying out to our heavenly Father for guidance, protection, assistance, forgiveness, and endurance. Our great hope is not in our ability to be good parents, but in the grace of God that enables us to be godly parents.

An Excellent Article for Parents to Consider

If you have children or grandchildren, you need to read this article by Dr. Timothy Paul Jones. The article is entitled, "Clothing and the Character of the Child." I read the article as a pastor doing research. I was touched by the article as a father of a young girl. My desire is that my daughter will grow up into a godly woman who exercises modesty, self-control and Christian virtue. This article is a power reminder that I, her father, have the responsibility of shaping the character of my daughter, for the glory of the Lord and her good.